Psychometric properties of the pelvic organ prolapse symptom score.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the internal consistency, construct validity and sensitivity to change of a pelvic organ prolapse symptom score (POP-SS).


METHODS
Analysis of data from three prolapse studies, including symptomatic and asymptomatic women who completed the POP-SS.


METHODS
(1) A community setting in New Zealand, (2) two gynaecology outpatient departments in Scotland and (3) a gynaecological surgery department in Scotland.


METHODS
(1) Participants from a survey of postnatal women at 12-year follow up, invited to complete a prolapse questionnaire and have prolapse assessment, (2) new gynaecology outpatients presenting with prolapse symptoms, randomised to pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) or control and (3) women having anterior and/or posterior prolapse surgery, randomised to mesh insert or no mesh.


METHODS
Data were analysed to assess internal consistency, construct validity and sensitivity to change of the POP-SS.


METHODS
Cronbach's alpha, significance of differences in POP-SS scores between studies and significance of difference in POP-SS scores pre- to post-intervention.


RESULTS
For internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.723 to 0.828. Women having surgery had higher POP-SS scores than those having conservative management (mean difference 5.0, 95% CI 3.1-6.9), who in turn had higher scores than the asymptomatic women (mean difference 5.9, 95% CI 4.4-7.4). Significant differences in POP-SS score were detected after surgery and PFMT. The improvement due to surgery was significantly greater than that associated with PFMT (z =-3.006, P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The POP-SS has good internal consistency and construct validity and is sensitive to change.
Hagen
S
S
Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK. s.hagen@gcal.ac.uk
Glazener
C
C
Sinclair
L
L
Stark
D
D
Bugge
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D052858:Cystocele / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology